Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics
Patience and Persistence Pay Off as Braydon Brus Looks Toward 2025 Season
8/28/2025 3:20:00 PM | Football
By Charlie Spungin, NUSports.com
Since he first set foot in Evanston, redshirt junior linebacker Braydon Brus has built a reputation for being one of the hardest-working, most competitive players in the Northwestern locker room.
"You get in here early in the morning, and you're going to see Braydon Brus in the weight room, in the linebacker room, getting ready for practice, preparing mentally," Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Tim McGarigle said. "He's the guy that's going to put in every single bit of effort, leaving no stone unturned."
After years of playing behind All-Big Ten linebackers like Bryce Gallagher and Xander Mueller, Brus will step into the limelight for the Wildcats this weekend — largely due to his stellar work ethic.
In a press conference in mid-August, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun announced Brus would be the team's starting Will linebacker for Week 1 at Tulane.
"He's just continued to improve," Braun said. "We've known Braydon for a long time from a skillset standpoint. His explosiveness and speed are things that really differentiate him as a Will linebacker. You can just tell that Braydon as he's progressed through spring, summer and fall, is just becoming more comfortable."
Over four years ago, Brus — a three-star recruit — committed to Northwestern over other Power schools such as Michigan State, California and Arizona. After redshirting his first-year in 2022, he carved himself a role as a key special teams member during his redshirt first-year.
During that 2023 season, Brus forced two fumbles while playing kick coverage. The first came in the opening seconds of a contest against Penn State, and the second came at a crucial juncture of the fourth quarter in what would become a 45-42 win over Illinois to secure The Hat.
"My mentality was really that any chance I get to go out there and make a play and prove myself, I really wanted to do that," Brus said in April 2024. "Any time I was out there, I wanted to try to cause some sort of havoc."
In the 2024 season, Brus appeared in all 12 games, playing an important rotational role defensively and remaining a staple of the special teams unit. McGarigle said that Brus' ability to make plays on special teams has translated to the linebacker position over the past few years.
During the Wildcats' first spring practice this past year, Brus stepped into the role of the team's top Will linebacker. He did not surrender the position over the course of the rest of spring ball, summer, and fall camp.
Of course, what has enabled the opportunity for an increased role is Brus' relentless desire to improve his craft.
"He's getting better every day," McGarigle said. "He is the epitome of the guy who has put in the work and gotten better every single day, and now it's his time to roll with it. We're going to expect big things out of him."
McGarigle lauded Brus' talent, saying it has been starting-caliber for years, but that an opportunity to take first-team repetitions had not presented itself until this year.
Entering his eighth year as Northwestern's Linebackers Coach, McGarigle has coached seven All-Big Ten linebackers. He said that there aren't many linebackers who possess the top-notch athleticism that Brus brings to the table.
"He's ultra-athletic," McGarigle said. "He's one of the more explosive guys on the team, probably one of the highest clean squats, benches, just a really strong person in terms of brute strength. And he's a smart football player. He's got great speed that can react, and we're going to see a lot of fun things out of him this year."
During his collegiate years, Brus has never skipped a beat or put his head down. His hard work has endured, and it has positioned him to make a significant impact for the Wildcats this season.
Come Saturday, Brus' striking athleticism will be on full display in New Orleans as the Wildcats take on Tulane. Starting alongside graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein, his roommate and close friend, Brus will look to make explosive plays in front of 30,000 spectators at Yulman Stadium.
"I'm very excited, very humbled, and honored. It's been really a grind these past four years," Brus said. "Obviously, you come to college wanting to start and get to play on the big stage, so I'm just excited and ready for that. I'm going to bring everything I have. My speed and athleticism are something I can bring to the table at the linebacker position, so I'm just excited and grateful that I'll get to display that at Tulane and be out there with all my brothers."
Since he first set foot in Evanston, redshirt junior linebacker Braydon Brus has built a reputation for being one of the hardest-working, most competitive players in the Northwestern locker room.
"You get in here early in the morning, and you're going to see Braydon Brus in the weight room, in the linebacker room, getting ready for practice, preparing mentally," Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Tim McGarigle said. "He's the guy that's going to put in every single bit of effort, leaving no stone unturned."
After years of playing behind All-Big Ten linebackers like Bryce Gallagher and Xander Mueller, Brus will step into the limelight for the Wildcats this weekend — largely due to his stellar work ethic.
In a press conference in mid-August, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun announced Brus would be the team's starting Will linebacker for Week 1 at Tulane.
"He's just continued to improve," Braun said. "We've known Braydon for a long time from a skillset standpoint. His explosiveness and speed are things that really differentiate him as a Will linebacker. You can just tell that Braydon as he's progressed through spring, summer and fall, is just becoming more comfortable."
Over four years ago, Brus — a three-star recruit — committed to Northwestern over other Power schools such as Michigan State, California and Arizona. After redshirting his first-year in 2022, he carved himself a role as a key special teams member during his redshirt first-year.
During that 2023 season, Brus forced two fumbles while playing kick coverage. The first came in the opening seconds of a contest against Penn State, and the second came at a crucial juncture of the fourth quarter in what would become a 45-42 win over Illinois to secure The Hat.
?? SCOOP AND SCORE ?? pic.twitter.com/UghpoO9KFe
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) November 25, 2023
"My mentality was really that any chance I get to go out there and make a play and prove myself, I really wanted to do that," Brus said in April 2024. "Any time I was out there, I wanted to try to cause some sort of havoc."
In the 2024 season, Brus appeared in all 12 games, playing an important rotational role defensively and remaining a staple of the special teams unit. McGarigle said that Brus' ability to make plays on special teams has translated to the linebacker position over the past few years.
During the Wildcats' first spring practice this past year, Brus stepped into the role of the team's top Will linebacker. He did not surrender the position over the course of the rest of spring ball, summer, and fall camp.
Of course, what has enabled the opportunity for an increased role is Brus' relentless desire to improve his craft.
"He's getting better every day," McGarigle said. "He is the epitome of the guy who has put in the work and gotten better every single day, and now it's his time to roll with it. We're going to expect big things out of him."
McGarigle lauded Brus' talent, saying it has been starting-caliber for years, but that an opportunity to take first-team repetitions had not presented itself until this year.
Entering his eighth year as Northwestern's Linebackers Coach, McGarigle has coached seven All-Big Ten linebackers. He said that there aren't many linebackers who possess the top-notch athleticism that Brus brings to the table.
"He's ultra-athletic," McGarigle said. "He's one of the more explosive guys on the team, probably one of the highest clean squats, benches, just a really strong person in terms of brute strength. And he's a smart football player. He's got great speed that can react, and we're going to see a lot of fun things out of him this year."
During his collegiate years, Brus has never skipped a beat or put his head down. His hard work has endured, and it has positioned him to make a significant impact for the Wildcats this season.
Come Saturday, Brus' striking athleticism will be on full display in New Orleans as the Wildcats take on Tulane. Starting alongside graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein, his roommate and close friend, Brus will look to make explosive plays in front of 30,000 spectators at Yulman Stadium.
"I'm very excited, very humbled, and honored. It's been really a grind these past four years," Brus said. "Obviously, you come to college wanting to start and get to play on the big stage, so I'm just excited and ready for that. I'm going to bring everything I have. My speed and athleticism are something I can bring to the table at the linebacker position, so I'm just excited and grateful that I'll get to display that at Tulane and be out there with all my brothers."
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